Side bearing for cars.



No. 697,53l. Patented Apr. l5, |902.

J. E. Nonwoon.

SIDE BEARING FOB CARS.

(Apphcation led Aug 12, 1901 @muli/#Wm "l U ll///////////////// am' l /l/.l AM.

UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. NORIVOOD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO BALTIMORE BALLBEARING OO., OF`BAL'1IMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

SIDE BEARING FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,531, dated April15, 1902.

Application filed August 12, 1901. .Serial No. 71,776. (No model.)

specification.

My invention is designed for the production of an improved antifrictionside bearing for cars, the object of the same being to provide novelmeans for securing a broad bearing between the antifrictional devicesand the cooperating bearing-plate and to provide 'novel means wherebythe antifrictional devices are automatically returned to their normalcentral operative positions by gravity.

A further object of the invention is to pro- `videnovel means for theautomatic discharge Aof dust or dirt which may gain access to thebearing parts and to vsimplify and cheapen the construction of thebearing as a whole. Y The-details of the invention will be hereinafterdescribed,and the novel features thereof will be set forth in theclaims.

In the drawings forming part of this specilication, Figure l is alongitudinal section of my improved bearing. Fig. 2 is a bottom planview of the upper member of the bearing. Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view of the bearing, and Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective viewsof details of construction.

Like reference-numerals indicatelike parts in the different views.

My improved bearing is made up of the upper member 1, designed to besecured to the body-bolster of thev car, and the lower member orbearing-plate 2, designed to be secured to the truck-bolster of the car.Each of said members is provided with lugs or ears, through which thesecuring means therefor may be passed.

The upper member l of the bearing is provided with alongitudinally-extending channel or race 3, in which the balls 4 orother equivalent antifrictional devices are located. The said groove orchannel is formed in the lower surface of the member l and islongitudinally curved upon the arc of a circ-le of which the king-boltof the car is the center.

The central portion of the channel 3 is iiat or horizontal and isprovided with a removable wear-plate 5, while the end portions of saidchannel are upwardly inclined, as shown at 6. Secured to the under sideof the member l and designed to retain the balls 4 in place within thechannel 3 is a plate or cover 7, having a longitudinally-extending slotor opening 8 therein, through which the balls 4 are adapted to project.The said opening S is narrower than the balls 4, so that while saidballs may project therethrough it is impossible for them to escapethrough said opening. The opening 8 is formed with tapering ends 9, asclearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. The plate 7 liessubstantially parallel throughout its length with the basewalls of thechannel S-that is, its central portion is horizontal and parallel to thewearplate 5, and its ends are upwardlyinclined, so as to liesubstantially parallel with the end portions 6.

Now it will be observed. that when my improved bearing is in use anelongated bearing-surface is provided between the several balls 4, whichare opposite the wear-plate 5 and the member 2 of the bearing. It willalso be observed that during the relative turning movements of the truckand body the bearing-point between the two parts of the device willremain central-that is, there will always be some of the balls 4 beneaththe ywear-plate 5. It will be noted, further, that during the relativemovements of the truck and body in one direction or the other some ofthe balls 4 will be moved up into one of the inclined end portions 6 ofthe channel 3,

but that as soon as contact between the two parts of the bearing isrelieved said balls will automatically return to their normal centralpositions by gravity, the same rolling upon the inclined ends of theplate or cover 7. It

or cover 7 are inclined any dust or dirt which may gain access to theinterior working parts of the bearing will be moved downwardly upon theinclined surfaces of these parts and be discharged through the opening 8in said plate or cover 7.

The lower surface of the wear-plate 5 is preferably formed with a curvedgroove 10, and the upper surface of the member 2 is preferably formedwith a curved groove 11. The transverse curvature of the grooves 10 and11 conforms to the spherical curvature of the balls 4, so that contactbetween said balls and the wear-plate 5 and bearing-plate 2, in contactwith which they move, includes a large proportion of the surface of saidballs. This construction is Afound of advantage, as it prevents theunequal wear or flattening of any of the bearing parts. The wear-plate 5is preferably constructed of hardened steel and is seated in a socket orrecess 12 in the member 1. When the same becomes worn, therefore, it maybe readily removed and a new one substituted for it. As the greaterportion of the wear of the bearing comes upon the plate 5, this is animportant feature of construction, as it enables the bearing to bepractically renewed throughout by the renewal of a single part.

By reason of the extreme simplicity in construction of my improvedbearing and the fact that it is composed of few parts the same may bemade at a low cost. This is an important feature offadvantage. It shouldbe stated in this connection that the end portions 6 of the channel 3 inthe upper member 1 are formed with concave end walls 18, producingpockets. These pockets, or rather those portions thereof which lieadjacent to the plate or cover 7, serve to prevent the balls 4E in thechannel 3 from being forced outinto contact with the inner surface ofsaid plate or cover 7. In other words, by the provision of the concavewalls 13 pressure of the balls upon the inner surface of the plate orcover 7 is prevented. It should also be stated that the lowerbearing-plate 2 may be provided, if desired, with a removable wear-plate14, similar to the wear-plate 5 on the upper member l.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an antifriction-bearing, two coperating members, one of which isprovided with an elongated channel having a central horizontalbearing-surface and upwardly-inclined portions terminating in end wallsseparated from each other, and means for retaining antifrictionaldevices within said channel and for causing the same to move by gravityto their central positions.

2. In an antifriction-bearing, two cooperating members, the upper ofwhich is provided with an elongated channel having upwardlyextending endportions, which terminate in end walls separated from each other, andmeans for retaining antifrictional devices within said channel.

3. In an antifriction-bearing, two coperating members, the upper ofwhich is provided with an elongated channel having a central horizontalbearing-surface and upwardly-extending inclined end portions terminatingin end walls separated from each other, and means for retainingantifrictional devices within said channel.

4. In an antifriction-bearing, two coperating members, one of which isprovided with an elongated channel for the reception of antifrictionaldevices, the said channel having upwardly-extendingend portionsterminatingin end walls which are separated from each other and a coverfor said channel having inclined ends and an opening through which saidantifrictional devices are adapted to project.

5. In an antifriction-bearing, two coperating members, one of which isprovided with an elongated channel for the reception of antifrictionaldevices, the said channel having a central horizontal bearing-surfaceand upwardly-inclined end portions terminating in concave end wallswhich are separated from each other and a cover for said channel havinga central horizontal portion and upwardlyinclined ends and having anopening therein along its central portion through which saidantifrictional devices may project.

6. In an antifriction-bearing, two coperating members, one of which isprovided with an elongated channel for the reception of antifrictionaldevices, the said channelhaving upwardly-extending inclined end portionsterminating in concave end walls which are separated from each other, aremovable, horizontally-disposed wear-plate for the central portion ofsaid channel, and a cover for said channel having a central horizontalportion and upwardly-inclined ends and having an opening therein throughwhich said antifrictional devices may project.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN E. NORIVOOD.

XVitnesses:

ino. W. REA, WM. M. STooKnRIDGE.

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